Outlet box



July 13, 1943. I R. E. HAYNES OUTLET BOX Filed Jan. 16, 1943 3J7. HaynesIN V EN TOR.

Patented July 13, 1943 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is anelectrical outlet box, and the invention aims to provide a knock-outdisk of novel construction.

In outlet boxes as at present constructed, the knock-out disk is joinedto the head of the box by a reduced neck, which is broken when the diskis knocked out, the disk then being of no further service as a means forclosing the result ing hole, it being a matter of common knowledge thatelectricians often knock out a disk, and then desire to close the hole,disks of known constructions being incapable of accomplishing that end.

A further object of the invention is to supply a knock-out disk which,having been removed, may be accumulated in any desired quantity, for usewherever necessary, when it is desired to close the hole in an outletbox.

In known constructions, a detached disk has a junk value only, whereas,in the present invention, the disk has an increased value, as a means toa specific end, to wit, closing the hole in the outlet box.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in plan, an outlet box constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the opposite surface of the box from thatdelineated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section illustrating a step in the mounting ofthe knockout disk in place;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section illustrating that the knock-out may bedisposed anywhere in the box, and that the box need not be of circularconstruction.

The letter B marks an outlet box, made of any preferred material, andcomprising, as constituent portions, a disk-like head I havingventilating openings 2, and a rim 3 connected to the head and suppliedwith any suitable attaching means 4.

There results from the formation of holes 5 in the head 2 of the box B,the disks 6, the constituent material of which is extruded slightly, toform oppositely disposed, integral, peripheral lips l, and oppositelydisposed, integral, peripheral wings 8, extended between the lips and ofgreater area than the lips.

When the disk 6 is in place, as shown in Fig. 2, the wings 8 on the onehand, and the lips I on the other hand, engage opposite surfaces of thehead I, to hold the disk removably in place. The drawing shows thateither the wings 8 or the lips I may engage the outer surface of thehead I, beyond the perimeter of the holes 5.

Each disk 6 is supplied with a transverse, depressed tool seat 9,extended between the lips I. A screw driver, or like tool is placed inthe seat 9 and if the screw driver is hit with a hammer or other object,the disk 6 will be expelled.

As to the manner of mounting the disk 6 in place, it is bentdiametrically, as shown in Fig. 4, to fashion the tool seat 9, and tobring the wings 8 close enough together so that they will pass throughthe hole 5, the lips I then engaging one surface of the head I of theoutlet box. The wings 8 then are flattened down on the opposite surfaceof the head I, as shown in Fig. 2, and the disk is securely butremovably held in place.

After the disk 6 has been knocked out, it may be restored to thecondition shown in Fig. 4, and it is then in shape so that it may beused again.

The extrusion and shaping of the disk 6 may be done as a die stampingoperation, or as a distinct operation to be carried out either bymachinery, or, if necessary, by hand.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is simple, butwill be found capable of carrying out the ends set forth in the openingportion of this specification.

As shown in Fig. 5, wherein parts hereinbefore described have beendesignated by numerals previously used, with the suffix a, the knock-outBa is shown as located in the side of the box, which need not be ofcircular form. The openings and the disk need not be located in the headof the box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A knock-out disk for an electrical outlet box, the disk having itsconstituent material extended peripherally at oppositely-disposed placesabout the periphery to form outwardly-projecting lips and having itsconstituent material extended between the lips to form outwardlyprojecting wings, the disk being creased entirely across to form a toolseat, the crease passing across the lips, and the lips being ofsubstantially less circumferential length than the wings to facilitatethe aforesaid creasing, the creasing serving to form the disk into twoparts disposed at such an angle to each other that the disk may passthrough the opening in the outlet box which the disk is intended toclose.

ROBERT EARL HAYNES.

